Panorama attachment for cameras.



P. 1?. GEOFF. PANORAMA ATTACHMENT FOR CAMERAS. APPLICATION FILED DEG.30.1908.

946,800. Patented Jan. 18,1910. QSHEETS-SHEET 1.

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UNITED STATES PATEN FFlCEL.

FREDERICK F. GEOFF, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

PANORAMA. ATTAGEKMEJT ESE CAMERAS.

To all toll-om it may concern:

3e it lziiiow'n that l, .Fnnonnicit F. Gnorr, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Lancaster and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inPanorama. Attachments for Cameras, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had. therein to the accompanying drawing.

My invention relates to an attachment for a. photog aphic camera torender it capable of making panoramic exposures, and is especiallyintended for use with the usual style of camera using a film spool.

My present invention is an improvement over my Patent No. 908,091, datedDec. 29, 1908, and consists in several changes and novel constructionswhich will hereinafter be fully described and claimed.

By my novel construction my panoramic attachment may be quickly adjustedfor use with cameras of dilferent sizes, and also regulated as to thelength of film to be exposed and the munber of degrees through which teecamera shall be revolved.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in anattachment which may be secured between the camera and tripod in such amanner that it will revolve upon itself as actuated by a self-containedmotor, or may be operated by hand, thus revolving the camera, and at thesame time and with the required speed it will also wind the film withinthe camera from one spool to the other thus exposing its surface back ofthe lens as required.

The objects of my invention are to produce a simple, cheap and readilyattached device of this class and one that may be quickly adapted tocame as of varying sizes, and easily attached and detached.

l i hile l have here described and claimed my invention as illustratedin the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, it isfully understood that l do not confine myself to the exact constructionas shown, as slight changes may be made in the construction andcombination of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and inwhich like figures of reference refer to corresponding parts in all ofthe views, Figure 1, is a vertical sectional view of the device, takenon I Patented Jan. 18, 195.8.

Serial No. 4%,119.

a central line, with the camera removed. Fig. 2, is a horizontalsectional view, taken on the line X X of Fig. 1, looking upward. Fig. 3,is a top plan view of the main gear plate removed from the attachu'ient.Fig. 4%, is a side elevation of the device, showing the method ofattaching it to the camera and to the tripod. Fig. 5, is a centralsectional elevation of the gear case in detail. Fig. 6, is a bottom planview of the same, with the gears removed. Fig. 7, is a sectionalvertical detail. view of the end of the arm and spool operating means.Fig. 8, is a top plan view of the spool attaching clamp. Fig. 9, is avertical detail sectional view of the pivot construction in detail.

Referring to the drawings, 1, indicates a circular case formed with theinterior concentric bearing surfaces 2, and 8, in the side wall thereof.Near the top of said case 1, in the side wall thereof, is provided thehorizontal slot 4, through which extends the ad justable arm 5, which isformed with the longitudinal vertical orifice (hthrough which are passedthe guide and securing screws '7, which are screw-threaded into thelower surface of the top of said case 1, and which serve to secure thearm at any desired extension. The center of said case 1, is providedwith the pivot post 8, having its upper end extending above the top ofsaid case and rigidly secured thereto, while its extending end 9, isscrew-threaded for the purpose of attaching the device to the camera inplace of the usual tripod 10. l-Vithin the case 1, the pivot post 8, isreduced in diameter and has rotatably mounted thereon the main gearplate 11, which is formed with the downwardly extending sleeve 12, andthe concentric internal gear 13, upon its upper surface; while theperiphery of said gear plate 11, rotates upon the bearing surface 2, inthe side wall of the case 1.

Embracing the outer surface of the sleeve 12, and detachably securedthereto by the screw 14, is the sleeve 15, which is integral with andextends upward from the upper surface of the bottom plate 16, and whichis also provided with the inner shoulder 17, embracing the lower end ofthe pivot post 8, and detachably attached thereto bythe screw 18, whichis screw-threaded into the lower end of said pivot post. 8, with itshead bear ing against the lower surface of said shoulder 1?, thusrotatably securing the gear plate 11, and the bottom plate 16, to thepivot post 8; while he periphery of said bottom plate l 16, rotates uponthe bearing surface 3, in the side wall of the case 1. The lower surfaceY of said bottom plate 16, is further '3 'ovided with two or moreintegral ribs 19, and the hinged rib '20, beyond the circumference ofthe case and afford a finger grip fo wind ing, and when not in use maybe folded iiiwardly against the lower surface of said bottom plate to,liush with the surface of said stationary ribs 19, and adapted to restupon the usual tripod 10, which is attached to the device by the stud21, which is screw-threaded into said bottom plate and the lower end ofthe sleeve 15, below the shoulder 17.

'lhe operating mechanism of the device cons 1 s of the main spring 22,which is conta ined within the case 1, between the plates 11, and 10,with its outer end secured at a suitable point to the side wall of saidcase 1, and its inner end to the screw l-Zt, thus surrounding the sleeve15, and when wound up actuating a tension to rotate the case upon saidplates 11, and 16, and around the pivot post 8.

ltigidly secured upon the pivot post 8, and in contact with the uppersurface of the gear plate 11, is the ratchet wheel 23, which iscontrolled by the dog 24-, mounted upon the upper surface of said plate11, and formed with a downwardly projecting stud '25, which extendsthrough the slot in said plate 11, said dog being held in normalengagement with said ratchet wheel by the spring 27. and released fromengagement by the action of the curved lever vhich forms an extendingarm of the rocker shaft 29, mounted within the bearing pipe 30, which issecured to the sleeve 15, said rocker shaft 29, being formed at itslower end with the lever 31, resting upon the upper surface of thebottom plate 16, and formed with the downwardly projecting finger-catchG0. which is adapted to slide within the slot 32, formed in said bottomplate 16, and thus affording a means for disenk ging the dog Z-l, fromthe ratchet wheel 23, when it is dcsii ed to start the mechanism.

The gear case 33, is formed with a top 1, plate 3 t. waich secured tothe under surface of the top of the case 1, by the screw 61; whilewithin the lower plate or body of said 1 gear case 33, is rotatablymounted the sleeve 35, upcn the upper end of which is rigidly securedthe ratchet wheel 36, and upon the lcwer end of which is rigidly securedthe pinion 37; while within said sleeve 35, and I l the top plate ll, isrotatably mounted the vertical shaft 38, upon which is rigidly securedthe sprocket wheel 39. The pinion 31', extends below said gear case 33,in such a manner that it is in mesh with and will be rotated by theinter ial gear 13, and the ratchet wneel 36, cocperating with the dog-10, which is mounted upon the lower surl face of the sprocket wheel 39,allows the pinion 37, to be revolved during the process of winding themain spring without rotating said sprocket wheel 39, until it releasedby the mechanism provided for that purpose.

'lhe film spool attaching and operating mechanism consists in a verticalshaft ll, mounted in the arm near the outer end thereof, and providedwith a projecting up per end squared to receive the spool clamp 42,which is formed with the orifice al to receive the winding stud of thecamera and the transverse slots ll, to engage the winding handle; thisclai'np l2, being detachable to facilitate attaching the device to thecamera. Below said arm 5, and mounted ugon the square body if), of saidshaft ll, is the sprocket wheel it), which is connected to the sprocketwheel 39, by the chain H, which pass s through the orifices 18, in theside wall of the case 1; while the lower end of said shaft all, isreduced in dian'ieter, and is journaled in the bracket 19, and isfurther provided with the linger-ring 50; while its reduced portion 51,within the hub of the sprocket wheel at), is surrounded by the coilspring 552, which tends to retain said shaft in engagement with thespool clamp 1-2, when in a normal positicn, but allowing it to bereceded to release said clamp For regulating the distancethrough whichthe case 1, attached to the camera shall be rotated, I provide thefriction band 53, which is contained in and guided by the groove 5l-.,in the outer surface of the wall cf the case 1, and said band 53, may beretained with the tliumb-screw 55, in any desired place by the action ofsaid thumb-screw 57), hearing against the case 1.

l pon the lower surface of thebottom plate ltt, near the edge thereof,is rigidly secured the stop 56. which projects outward and upward toengage the screw 55, on the friction band in such a manner that therotation of the case 1. upon the plates 11, and 16, attached to thetripod will be stopped as soon as the stop 56. and screw 5?), come intocon tact, the distance at which the screw 55, and band 53, are placedahead of the stop so, regulating the arc of revolution.

For compensating for the slack of the chain I provide within the casethe tension arm 57, which is pivoted at one end to the wall of the case1, and is bifurcated at the other end and has rotatably mounted thereinthe idler wheel 58, to enga e and bear against said chain by the actionof the spring 59.

The attaching and operation of the device as a whole is as followsz-Themain spring having been wound by holding the case in one hand andrevolving the plates by the use of the hinged rib, with the other handand the arm 5, having been set to the required radius to accommodate thesize of the camera, the case is thensecured to the camera in place ofthe usual tripod, the spool clam iis secured and the tripod attached tothe bottom plate 16. The triction band is now set to stop the rotationat the require place, and by a slight push on the linger catch (30, ofthe releasing device is operated and the e: se secured to and carryingthe camera, ant also revolving the film spool is rotated upon the platessecured to the tripod until retarded by the stop. The tension at whichthe main spring is wound will regulate the speed at which the attachmentrevolves without the use of any escapement wheels.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is l. A panoramic attachment for cameras of theclass described, comprising a circular case, an. arm radiating from andadjustably secured to and. within said case; a bottom plate rotatablymounted within said ase and provided with a screw-threaded oritice inthe bottom thereof to receive the tripod screw; means for rotating saidcase upon said bottom plate, means for starting said rotation, means forlimiting said rotation, means for pivoting said case upon said hottomplate, and. meal s for rotating cfilm spool oi the camera as said caseis revolved upon said bottom plate.

33. It panoramic attachment for cameras of the class described,comprising a circular case formed with an orifice in the side wallthereof, an arm radiating from and adjust ably mounted within saidorifice, said arm forn'ied with a longitudinal slot in the body thereof,screws passing through said slot and screw-threaded into the top of saidcase for the purpose of adjustably securing said arm to said case; abottom plate termed with an upwardly extending hollow boss, formed withan inward transverse dividing wall, ribs secured upon the lower surfaceof said bottom plate, one of said ribs hinged to said plate near theedge thereof and adapted to open outward in a radial relation to saidbottom plate, means for rotating said case upon said plate and means foroperating the .lilm within the camera by the revolution of said case.

3. A panoramic attachment tor cameras of the class described, comprisinga circular base plate detachably secured upon the tripod and formed withan upwardly extending hollow boss in the center thereof, a circular caseformed with bearing surfaces in the walls thereof, one of said bearingsur faces adapted to engage and revolve upon the edge of said bottomplate, a central pivot post secured to and extending downward withinsaid case, said pivot post reduced in diameter for a portion of itslength. a gear plate formed with a downwardly extending hollow bossadapted to embrace and rotate upon the reduced portion of said pivotpost, and further a apted to contained within and detachably secured tothe upwardly e2:- tending hollow boss of said bottom plate, the eoge oiisaid gear plate engaged by one of the bearing surfaces in the wall ofaid case, means for revolving said circular case upon gear plate, andmeans for winding the lilm spool of the camera by the revolution of saidcase.

4-. A panoramic attachment for V of the class described, comprising a:irc ilar bottom plate formed with a central up wardly extending hollowboss, a circular gear plate formed with a rental downwardly extendinghollow boss, adaptec to be contained within the boss upon said bottomplate, a locking screw ed through the wall of said outer boss andscrew-threaded into the wall of said inner hes, a circular caseembracing said plates and formed with concentric bearings acapted toengage and rotate upon said plates, at central pivot post having itsupper end. secured within said case and the lower portion of its bodycontained within and detachably and rotatably secured to said hollowbosses a spring mounted between said plates ano surrounding said bosses,and having its i iner end secured upon said locking screw and its outerend secured to the wall of said circular case for the purpose ofrevolving said case upon sa d plates, and means for controlling theaction of said spring.

A panoramic attachment, for cameras oi: the class described, comprisinga circular bottom plate formed with a central upwardly projecting boss,a gear plate formed with a central downwardly projecting boss, saidbosses adapted to telescope upon each other, a ClCtlltll' case formedwith bearing surfaces lorn'ied in its side wall ano adapted to berotated upon said plates, a central pivot post secured within and tosaid circular case and having its lower portion rotatably secured withinand to said telescoping bosses, a spring intunted within said casebetween said plates and surrounding said bosses, the inner end of saidspring secured to said bosses and the outer end of said spring securedto the wall of said case, a ratchet wheel rigidly secured upon saidpivot post above said gear plate, a dog mounted upon said gear plate inengagement with said ratchet wheel, a curved slot formed in said gearplate, a stud secured to and depending from said dog through said slot,a vertical shaft mounted in a bearing secured to said telescopingbosses, a lever integral with the upper end of said shaft and adapted tobear against and operate the stud attached to the dog in said slot forthe purpo e oi releasing said ratchet wheel, and a lever integral withthe lower end of said mounted between said plates and attached 1 s. acircular case formed with c s enc'a ing said plates, :1 cento said bobearing surji e g g tral pivot post secu td within and to said ease andhaving its lower portion contained within and rotatably and detachablvsecured to said bosses, an internal gear secured upon and concentricwith the upper surface of said g ar plate, a gear case compr sing a topplate and a bottom plate formed with vertical bearings in the bodythereof, and adapted to be secured within said circular case, a hollowsleeve mounted n said hea ing in said bottom plate, a ratchet wheelrigidly secured upon said sleeve below said plate, a pinion rigidlysecured upon said sleeve below said plate and in mesh with said internalgear, a vertical shaft rotatably mounted within said sleeve and thebearing t: top plate, a sprocket wheel rigidly mounted upon said shaftbelow said top plate, and above said ratchet wheel, a spring actuateddog secured upon the bottom of said sprocket wheel and adapted to engagewith said ratchet wheel.

7. A panoramic attachment for cameras of the class described, comprisinga circular Z2130 rotatablv and detachably mounted upon a circula bottomplate. a gear case mounted within said circular case and a sprocketwheel mounted within said gear case, said circular case formed withhorizontal slot in the side thereof, a adial arm extending through saidslot and adjustablv secured within said circular case, a verticalbearing formed in and near the outer end of said radial arm, a shaftmounted in said bearing, said shaft squared at its upper end above saidarm and reduced in diameter and squared below said bearing, a bracketsecured to and below said arm and formed with a bearing engaging thelower end of said shaft, a sprocket wheel mounted upon the lower squaredportion of said shaft above said bracket, aspring surrounding thereduced portion of said shaft and contained within said wheel, anendless chain joining said sprocket wheel to the sprocket wheel mountedwithin the gear case and operated thereby, a tension arm pivoted withinand to the wall of said case, a sprocket wheel mounted in said tensionarm and designed to l car against said chain and means for forcing saidwheel. against said chain, a film spool, clamp formed with a squareorifice in the bottom thereof to engage the upper end of the ra dial armshaft and a transverse slot in its side wall to engage the film windinghandle of the camera.

8. A panoramic attachment for cameras consisting of a bottom plateadapted to be detachabl secured to the camera tripod. a main gear platespaced from and detachablv secured to said bottom plate. a circular caserotatably mounted upon and detachabl se cured to said plates, mechanismsecured within said case for the purpose of rotating said case upon andaround said plates, an adjustable stopping device for limiting therotation of said case, comprising an encircling groove formed in theouter surface of said case, a friction band slidablv contained in saidgroove, a set screw threaded through said band and adapted to engagesaid case for the purpose of locking Sflltl band, and a stop securedupon the bottom plate and formed with an extending arm adapted to limitthe passage of said set screw, all for the purpose set lorth.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK F. GRGFF.

Vitnesses \Vit. J. COULTER, lllannn L. LEFEVRE.

